May 17, 2018: What to Know

Michigan State University has agreed to pay the largest known settlement in a sexual abuse case involving an American university. The New York Times reports that the settlement goes to hundreds of young women, many of them some of the nation's most elite gymnasts, who were victimized by Michigan State physician Dr. Lawrence Nassar. Many of the women said the university enabled Dr. Nassar's abuse and for years ignored those who came forward with complaints.

Breaking News: Michigan State University has agreed to pay $500 million to victims of the physician Larry Nassar, who sexually abused more than 300 young women https://t.co/0GBrwQgZJQ

Things are getting extremely dangerous near Mount Kilauea on Hawaii's big island. The BBC reports that the volcano is now blasting out "ballistic blocks" the size of kitchen appliances, as well as an ash plume that now rises two miles above the earth's surface, prompting an order to pilots to avoid the area.

ITD

Boise motorists are being warned of the latest downtown construction projects underway on Myrtle and Front streets and on Broadway Avenue. The Idaho Transportation Department says it needs to repave all three major roadways. Most of the work will be limited to weeknights from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m., but motorists are being warned that the surfaces will be rough or gravelly for at least the next two months. Construction got underway this week on Front and Myrtle, forcing traffic to merge into two lanes at night. Work on Broadway is expected to begin in late June or early July. That's when motorists can expect Broadway to merge down to one lane in both directions at night. ITD said it will notify impacted businesses when nighttime paving will temporarily block driveways.

The American birth rate has plummeted to its lowest point in thirty years. USA Today reports that new a new government report issued early today indicates that births have been declining steadily since 2014, but 2017 saw the greatest year-to-year drop, of about 92,000 births, since 1987.

Regular visitors to the gardens near Kensington Palace have noticed a brunette woman in a baseball cap walking a dog in the park, with what appears to be some security in tow. It's no big surprise to conclude that it's Meghan Markle, trying to get in a bit of pre-wedding alone time.Vanity Fair says Markle likes to jog with her beagle, Guy. Guy is a rescue dog from Kentucky. But Markle is a bit heartbroken, says Vanity Fair, because her labrador-shepherd mix, Bogart, was apparently too old to travel to London and has been left behind in Toronto with friends.